"Includes a history of the San Rafael Swell by Dee Anne Finken (expanded by Michael R. Kelsey) and geology of the San Rafael Swell by Lynn Jackson (updated by Michael R. Kelsey & Utah Geological Survey)"--Title page.

The San Rafael Swell is an anticline, or a geological uplift, that originally looked like an oval bowl turned upside down. Over time it has been carved into castle-like formations and deep canyons by erosive conditions. This landscape seemed so formidable to early cartographers that it was the last area in the continental United States to be mapped. The San Rafael Swell itself has no permanent human inhabitants, but small towns are scattered along its northern and eastern borders where first American Indians and later cowboys, ranchers, and miners made their homes. The hardy settlers of these towns familiarized themselves with what they called "the Desert" and gradually discovered its treasures and its secrets.

Guidebook to Utah's scenic San Rafael Swell

“Get your head into the clouds with Aerial Geology.” —The New York Times Book Review Aerial Geology is an up-in-the-sky exploration of North America’s 100 most spectacular geological formations. Crisscrossing the continent from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska to the Great Salt Lake in Utah and to the Chicxulub Crater in Mexico, Mary Caperton Morton brings you on a fantastic tour, sharing aerial and satellite photography, explanations on how each site was formed, and details on what makes each landform noteworthy. Maps and diagrams help illustrate the geological processes and clarify scientific concepts. Fact-filled, curious, and way more fun than the geology you remember from grade school, Aerial Geology is a must-have for the insatiably curious, armchair geologists, million-mile travelers, and anyone who has stared out the window of a plane and wondered what was below.

With his tape recorder, Richard Negri captured the life stories of seven men and three women who lived by herding cattle and sheep in the area around what is now Canyonlands National Park. Encompassing Wayne, Emery, and Garfield counties in southeastern Utah, this was a scenic land of isolated ranches, precipitous paths, and little water or food in the San Rafael Desert and the canyonlands west of the Green and Colorado Rivers. The stories he captured are rich with descriptive details of landscape and the challenges it presented to both humans and animals eeking out a living in this parched territory. The interviews with these early cowboys and cowgirls, sheepmen and sheepwomen, are full of colloquialisms, western flavor, and strong opinions. Fleshed out with maps and photographs, the stories capture the precarious existence of these people, celebrating their triumphs and their challenges, often begging the question of how or why one would choice to live in this hard-scrabble place. What shines clear in these stories is the committment these men and women have to their way of life and to the land they called home.

CLICK HERE to download the 4 mile hike to Fehr Lake from Best Hikes with Dogs Utah (Provide us with a little information and we'll send your download directly to your inbox) * 76 of the best trails that allow dogs * Handy trail-finder chart allows quick selection by difficulty, availability of water along the way, views, and more * Trails range from easy strolls to more challenging routes With over 84,900 square miles of national parks, wilderness and recreation areas, state parks, and national forests, Utah offers a wide variety of hiking trails. But with so many national parks and varying land agencies, navigating Utah with a dog can be frustrating and confusing. Lucky for you, Park City author Dayna Stern and her pup Harry have done the groundwork (and pawwork) to bring you this authoritatively researched guide on hiking with your dog in Utah. Best Hikes with Dogs: Utah describes 76 of the best dog-friendly trails in six regions around the Beehive State: Northern Utah, Salt Lake City area, Wasatch, the Uintas, Southcentral Utah, and Southwestern Utah. Stern describes several hiking options close to communities such as Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, Moab, and St. George and dog-friendly hiking destinations such as the Escalante River and Pine Valley Mountains. She also gives special attention to the unique skills and preparation needed for hiking with dogs in the varied terrain of Utah, including hiking near slot canyons, slick rock, and hiking in areas that lack water with your dog.